Lentswe, Klerksdorp - The North West province will soon have its own medical school with the Klerksdorp/Tshepong hospital complex serving as the initial clinical training platform. Just before Christmas, the NWU announced that the Minister of Health, Dr MJ Phaahla, supports the university’s plan to establish the NWU Medical School. He said the setup of the medical training programme has unique features of integrating primary health care early into the training of medical doctors.
“I am therefore pleased to provide your institution with my support in principle. This is subject to the NWU satisfying other steps of the accreditation process.”
The Minister of Health’s support is a culmination of the good work that has been done over the years by the NWU Medical School Task Team comprising members of the NWU Council under the leadership of the chairperson, Bert Sorgdrager, the university management led by the vice-chancellor, Prof Bismark Tyobeka, NWU chancellor, Dr Anna Mokgokong, and members of the provincial government.
“The NWU Management is ready to present the core details of the curriculum for accreditation. The team has already compiled a comprehensive proposal that will be presented to these structures early in 2024.
“I look forward to discussing the details with our partners in both the public and private sectors in South Africa and beyond to ensure that all hands remain on deck towards the implementation of our plans for the NWU Medical School,” added Prof Tyobeka.
* The initial enrolment will be fifty students, increasing as the school expands and the first intake is planned for 2028. The duration of the programme will be six years, three years integrated preclinical period followed by three years of clinical training, and thereafter internship and community service.
Some new infrastructure will also be built in Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp to cater to the needs of students.
